How to Cram the Night Before the Exam

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where the night before an exam arrives and you haven't even touched your textbooks or you’ve only skimmed through your notes? Almost everyone has been in this situation. However, recent studies have shown that staying up late to cram will impair your cognitive abilities and defeat the entire purpose of your study efforts. Yet, sometimes it's unavoidable. You need to take the exam first thing in the morning and have no other choice but to push on. Continue reading to discover some helpful tips on how to stay calm and protect your scores!

Set an alarm. In the worst-case scenario, you might wake up to find yourself surrounded by apple cores and ink stains on your cheek from falling asleep on your chemistry notes. But because you set your alarm, you won’t miss the exam day!

• So, make sure to do this right now, before you drift off. You’ll be thankful you did.

Stay Calm. This can be a bit challenging, but all you need to do is take a deep breath and focus your mind! Try to remember where all your textbooks are and have some blank paper and a pen ready. Highlighters and flashcards can also come in handy.

• If you still have the course textbook, that's excellent. Use it as a study guide. Topics that appear often are likely to appear on the exam.

Start from the beginning, and don’t get caught up in the small details! Focus on the broader concepts – highlight key points you believe will be on the exam. Also, pay close attention to the vocabulary! Understanding the meaning of words will help you master the content better.

• Read through chapter summaries (these usually highlight the key points). If there’s no summary, quickly skim the reading and jot down the main ideas.

Set Priorities. This is the most important part of cramming. With limited time, you need to use it wisely. Review the basic knowledge and focus only on what you think will appear on the exam.

• Focus on the key issues and memorize important formulas. For now, skip over the details and only revisit them if you have time after you’ve covered the essential content.
• Don’t try to memorize everything; concentrate on the things that will earn you the most points. For example, if the teacher says the essay will account for 75% of your grade, focus on preparing for the essay and skip the multiple-choice questions.

Write down important information or read out loud small sections. This technique helps your brain process the material more effectively. If you just skim through the textbook or notes, you’ll have a hard time remembering anything!

• If you’re lucky enough to have a roommate who’s up all night, ask them to help. They can listen to you talk about specific concepts. Teaching someone else is a surefire way to ensure you fully understand the material.

Make flashcards. This is a great way to self-test, and the process also helps when you write the information on the cards and read it out loud! Use different colors for different topics or chapters.

• Look for similarities, metaphors, and other memory triggers to help you remember complex concepts. Write the key terms of the metaphor to remind yourself of the material as you study.
• Use mnemonic techniques to write information. For example: Vào Gọi Nga Lên Bán Hai Cháo Lòng will represent Vực, Giới, Ngành, Lớp, Bộ, Họ, Chi, Loài.

Take a Break. It may sound counterintuitive, but your brain will process more information if you don’t overload it. Overstudying—stuffing your brain like a machine—won’t work, and will only lead to mental fatigue, leaving you unable to absorb anything more. With a break, you’ll retain more despite studying less.

• After about 45 minutes of studying, stand up, stretch, and walk around a little. Drink some water, have a snack, and return to your work after 5-10 minutes. You’ll feel more alert and energized.

Go to Sleep. If you stay up all night, you’ll wake up exhausted and risk forgetting everything! You should wake up 30-45 minutes earlier and quickly review the key points highlighted in your notes and textbooks. If you're using flashcards, go over them as well.

• Try to get at least 3 hours of sleep; this is the minimum needed for a complete sleep cycle. Waking up without sufficient rest will harm your scores.

Have Breakfast. You’ve probably heard that a nutritious meal before an exam helps your brain perform better. You should have breakfast as usual (you don’t want to feel sick) and avoid foods high in sugar and fat if you tend to feel anxious.

• Think of it this way: The more you eat before the exam, the less you’ll have to worry about hunger. Have a light meal before the exam to maintain your focus.

Take Deep Breaths. Review your material a few times on your way to the exam. If you’ve been paying attention in class and studied well the night before, you’ll be fine.

Test your knowledge with a classmate. You’ve got 5 minutes before the teacher walks in, so make the most of it! Take turns asking each other questions. Start with the areas where you’re unsure—this way, you’ll be able to remember them better.

• Don’t exchange answers during the exam—getting caught cheating will hurt your grade even more than usual.